Rhian’s journey to play Sally
“I was surprised. Like (direk) Avid (Liongoren), I cried and I cried some more. I called up everyone.” This was the recollection of Rhian Ramos when she learned that her movie, Saving
Sally, directed by Liongoren, made it to this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) along with seven other official entries.
We can’t blame Rhian for reacting that way, given the long journey the well-put live action-2D animation went through. The movie was based on a short story written in 2002. Its initial production commenced three years after. When the first female lead star became unavailable, direk Avid and his team had to start from scratch. Whew! What an interesting tale!
“Actually, I have the shortest (stay) from everyone,” shared Rhian of the time she spent working on Saving Sally during the movie’s recent presscon attended by print and broadcast media. “Everyone has been a part of the movie for around 10 years... But me, six years I have been a part of this film. I shot it when I was 19. I’m 26 now. How old am I?”
Co-star TJ Trinidad gave a clear timeline by telling that it was during their
Zorro days when he encouraged Rhian to try out for the title role. Like everybody else involved in the movie, Rhian believes in what Saving Sally could offer to the moviegoers. Finally, it is ready for public appreciation.
“It was a commitment,” she said, “and I’m very happy and emotional about this film. You know, it was the first (time) that I went to audition for (a role), of my own volition — without anyone telling me to. My friend just told me about it. TJ told me about it, too. And (I was like) ‘OK, I’m going to Makati tomorrow. I’m going to them and say that I want to try out for the part.’ In GMA and ABS(-CBN) or anything mainstream, even (in) the movie industry, most of the time they just kinda give you the part, parang gusto ko
‘to, gagawin ko (ito). This was my first experience na parang ‘I want to do that. I want to make the choice to go and do this film.’ So I’m just happy that this
film is finally out.” And it took a decade to finish Saving Sally, which is a success story in itself, knowing the challenges (lack of funds and resources) people behind it had to hurdle.
Direk Avid related that any animated film — made by Disney, Sony or Pixar — requires 500 people working straight for at least four years. These studios have better machines and equipment. His team pales in comparison in terms of the working force and technological access these companies can afford to have. He had only five people. They never had working money although were backed up by a few investors.
The narrative will see Rhian as Sally, a gadget inventor, whose aspiring comic book artist friend Marty (Enzo Marcos) has feelings for her. Also part of the romance angle is Sally’s inconsiderate boyfriend (TJ). It is interesting to follow Marty’s fantasies interacting with reality and his ways to protect and save Sally.
How was Rhian’s audition like for the role Sally?
“There (were) two or three scenes they wanted me to try,” answered Rhian, who also auditioned for her Captain Barbell character Leah Lazaro. “I read the part, I memorized it and the final challenge was that we were given a situation where I and Enzo were sitting on a couch and it was completely ad-lib. Parang kayo na ang bahala. Ito ang sitwasyon. It put to the test kung ano yung posibleng magiging chemistry namin.” During the screening process, direk Avid recalled that Rhian waited for her turn though the Saving Sally team could accommodate her ahead of everyone. They thought they could work with her because Rhian came in not as a star but as an actress.
“Without mentioning any names, a lot of girls from mainstream showbiz had already auditioned for the part and they were my friends,” Rhian said. “They heard about it and they told me about this movie also. I didn’t have any expectations — kung hindi nga nila nakuha, bakit ako makukuha. May iba silang hinahanap yun ang ibig sabihin. Baka nag-te-teleserye acting kami or something,
hindi ko alam. It was a real surprise to me that I was able to get the part. I was happy and lucky to do it because we had so much fun doing the whole thing.” This is true because it was quite an experience for her acting with the blue screen.
“It was new and a little closer to home because Marty and Sally are very much like the kids that I grew up with. The challenge was, how do I make it realistic after doing TV for four years?” said Rhian, who was referring to her 19-year-old self. “I wanted to be a realistic Sally in the world it (the story) is told. It’s a world where there is so much imagination and monsters exist.”
From that point in time, Rhian has matured handling interesting characters and is willing to audition for roles.
“This project taught me to make decisions for myself,” she said. “I could decide what I want. That’s also something that I’m putting into practice now in my career. I want to be able to decide what I will do next.”
Rated A by the Cinema Evaluation Board and parental guidance by the MTRCB,
Saving Sally opens on Dec. 25 in cinemas nationwide. It also stars Bodjie Pascua, Carme Sanchez, Sharmaine Centenera Buencamino and Archie Adamos.
‘It took a decade to finish Saving Sally, which is a success story in itself, knowing the challenges (lack of funds and resources) people behind it had to hurdle.’